Tony Mack wouldn’t go to Washington without telling the Feds. Would he?

Every person spoken to yesterday delivered a version of the aforementioned sentence after learning that Mayor Mack and his trusted aide Anthony Roberts attended the U.S. Conference of Mayors Conference in Washington.

Mack, arrested, indicted, released on bail and awaiting a June trial, had been forbidden to leave the state unless he received permission via a waiver from Pretrial Services.

Pretrial Services could not speak on the matter but Mack attorney, Mark Davis, said he did not know his client’s whereabouts.

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An expert on such matters told The Trentonian that if Davis still represented Mack then he would have filed an application for the mayor to escape Trenton.

Even if Mack received clearance one could understand disbelief about Trenton’s beleaguered mayor would hop an Amtrak train to Washington, D.C.

Mack can stay in a nice hotel. Order surf and turf. Nice bottle of wine.

“Hmmmmmmmm. What should I have for dessert? Could you send up an order of chocolate drizzled rum Mack-aroons.” (I mean, I am Mayor Mack). “That’s funny. I need to think where I can use that one.”

Somebody needs to reel this guy home then request that the Feds put him on a shorter leash.

In a perfect world, Mack should pay for his trip with money drawn from his campaign warchest. Remember now, Mack attempted to pass off as bronze a plastic resin bust of President Barack Obama.

You don’t think Mayor Mack would pass off a fake bronze bust of President Obama? Do you?

Well, yeah.

Or, how about hang out with a convicted sex offender?

Just might.

Have his electricity shut off then find another meter to turn it back on before PSE&G workers cut the power lines?

Oh dear.

(Allegedly) Cash in on a fake parking lot construction sting before being arrested by the Feds?

My word.

Sell out the city to a group of out-of-town lawyers?

That’s right.

(Allegedly) bilk a city educator out of thousands of dollars?

Yikes.

Decorate the city’s Christmas tree with a dozen of Mack-faced ornaments?

Oh, Holy Night.

Hold a conversation behind a locked door with his police director on the other side?

Fuggodaboudit!

Erect a $17,000 sign across a Cadwalader Park entrance without permission then take it down?

Shiver me timbers!

Neglect his burned out property in one of the city’s most rundown neighborhoods?

Stop de-press-ion.

You get the point. Never underestimate Mayor Tony Mack because he has displayed a regretful talent for doing the unthinkable as leader of this potentially great city.

The sad part about all of this is that Mayor Mack had a chance of a lifetime to help turn around a city where most Trentonians wanted nothing but the best for him.

This could have been a fantastic weekend for Mack with the U.S. Conference of Mayors Conference preceding the second inauguration of President Barack Obama happening in the city where Mack earned a college degree at Howard University.

Come home, Mayor Mack. The party’s over.

— L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Reach him at laparker@Trentonian.com.